Waimate Must-Do's

Architecture

Admire St Patrick’s Catholic Basilica, Italian-Romanesque in style. Seddon Square is an Edwardian-era park.

The Waimate Museum and Archives

The 1879 courthouse, former police station and jail houses provides a peek into Waimate history, open Tuesday to Friday.

Wallabies

Wallaby, Waimate © Adobe Stock

They can be seen bounding in the wild; for guaranteed sightings, head to the enclosure at Victoria Park or EnkleDooVery Korna, a private wallaby park.

Waimate Strawberry Fare

The much-loved Strawberry Fare erupts in Seddon Square on the second Saturday each December. Enjoy a lively jamboree of music, stalls and scores of berryfruit. The district hosts over 150 events every year!

White Horse Walkway

A large horse-shaped monument is embedded into Waimate hillside, constructed from 1200 concrete slabs. You can walk to it on a two-hour return hike. (Soon, it will glow in the dark!)

TOP TIP: Major redevelopments on the White Horse site will see a complete revamp using glow in the dark paint! Watch this space, the monument will soon be lit up at night.

The Whitehorse MTB Tracks

Local riders built and maintain bike tracks in the Hunters Hills overlooking Waimate.

Butlers Fruit Farm and Café

Enjoy seasonal fresh fruit picking and a year-round café serving fruity refreshments.

Victoria Park

A jewel in the crown, this park is all but a five-minute walk from the centre of Waimate. Make use of the playground (designed by children, no less), a scented garden, disc golf course, outdoor bowls, wallaby enclosure and camping area, with cabins starting from $35pp per night.

Fishing and Hunting

Popular destination amongst keen anglers and hunters due to its world class fishing and hunting options.

Silo Art

Four towering grain silos on the main street of Waimate depict the town’s past with murals of various notable townsfolk. A viewing platform on Dash Street is an excellent vantage point.

Birdwatching at Wainono Lagoon

Superb for bird enthusiasts, discover scores of migratory wading birds. The lagoon hosts over 50 species of waterfowl and fish, including various threatened breeds.

Ted’s Bottle

Call into the Waihao Forks Hotel to see the famous bottle of beer. Left here in 1939 by Ted, a farmer departing for WWII, he vowed to drink it on his return. Ted sadly never came home, and his bottle remains unopened.

TOP TIP: To commemorate Ted and his fellow fallen comrades, a statue of Ted has recently been erected outside Waihao Forks Hotel, honouring every rural soldier who left but never returned.

Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool

An open-air heated pool with a selection of inflatables and kayaks for the kids to enjoy. With a canteen, grassed area, paddling pool and complimentary gas barbecues. Open summer only.

Community Market

Seddon Square is home to the popular weekly Community Market held every Saturday morning from 9am to 12pm.

Want more? Visit Visit https://aatraveller.co.nz/travel-guides and get planning.

Looking for a place to stay? Book accommodation at aa.travel.co.nz